Petrucio Ferreira dos Santos

Started: He got involved in athletics in 2013. (reporterpb.com.br, 26 Aug 2019; olimpiadatododia.com.br, 24 Apr 2019) Reason: His athletic talent was noticed while he was playing futsal for his school team. He then signed up to compete at a school event and won, despite having never trained and using borrowed shoes. (reporterpb.com.br, 26 Aug 2019; olimpiadatododia.com.br, 24 Apr 2019; pan.uol.com.br, 11 Aug 2015) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (jornaldaparaiba.com.br, 23 Jul 2022) Awards: He was named Para Athletics Athlete of the Year for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022 by the Brazilian Paralympic Committee [CPB]. (ge.globo.com, 08 Feb 2023; agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br, 17 Dec 2019; cpb.org.br, 06 Dec 2018; globoesporte.globo.com, 04 Dec 2017, 07 Dec 2016; paralympic.org, 02 Dec 2016) He and boccia player Evelyn de Oliveira were flag bearers for Brazil at the opening ceremony of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (gettyimages.ie, 24 Aug 2021) Additional Info: SUPPORT When he was a young athlete he competed at the Brazilian School Games held in Joao Pessoa, Brazil. He was spotted by a coach who wanted him to remain in Joao Pessoa to train, but he did not have the resources to stay in the city. He was then helped with housing by the mother of another young athlete, who was also from his hometown of Sao Jose do Brejo do Cruz, Brazil. He won the gold medal in the T47 100m at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on 11 September, the birthday of the woman who had helped him. "Today is the birthday of a lady who helped me, who housed me, who gave me the chance to practise this sport when I had nothing." (olimpiadas.uol.com.br, 12 Sep 2016)